{"argument_date":"2011-11-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-11-02T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Millett argued the Fifth Circuit had the power to hear the appeal but decided the case wrongly.","Mr. Mitchell argued the Fifth Circuit lacked power because the certificate failed to meet legal requirements.","Mr. Delaney argued the certificate must name a specific constitutional claim to be valid.","Justice Scalia questioned whether the certificate's failure to name an issue invalidates it entirely."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-27"}]}],"caption":"Gonzalez v. Thaler","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.623003Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.655064Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a court can review a case if the appeal certificate fails to name a specific legal issue.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-11-02T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-895.html","primary_docket":"10-895","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:31:48.634467Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests the rules for appealing a federal habeas corpus decision. A habeas petition asks a judge to release a prisoner if their detention violates the law. To appeal a denial, a prisoner must get a certificate of appealability. The core question is whether this certificate must list a specific legal claim to be valid."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Gonzalez wants the Supreme Court to confirm the Fifth Circuit had the power to hear the appeal despite the vague certificate.","Thaler wants the Supreme Court to rule that the vague certificate stripped the Fifth Circuit of the power to hear the appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Gonzalez argues the certificate was valid because it met the basic requirement of allowing an appeal, even without naming a specific issue.","Thaler argues the certificate was invalid because the law requires it to identify a specific constitutional claim to grant appeal power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked how a court decides if a missing detail creates a jurisdictional bar.","Justice Kagan asked what specific words count as a valid certificate of appealability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-27"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the minimum requirements for a prisoner to appeal a habeas denial. It determines whether a vague certificate allows courts to review legal errors. The outcome shapes the procedural path for all federal prisoners seeking appellate review of their detention."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-27"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-895-gonzalez-v-thaler","term":"2011","title":"Does a vague appeal certificate strip courts of power to hear a case?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-895.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 47-1"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}